ATLANTA (Reuters) - American Kenny Perry took the clubhouse lead at the Atlanta Classic on Friday with his three-under round of 69 taking him to nine-under overall.

The 47-year-old Perry, who was one of five players tied for the lead on six under overnight, bogeyed the fourth but then produced four birdies to give himself a two-shot advantage over compatriot Heath Slocum.

The other overnight leaders Jonathan Kaye, Ryan Palmer, Jonathan Byrd and Parker McLachlin were all playing later on Friday.

Perry has had a gruelling 24 hours - his round on Thursday was affected by heavy rain from start to finish and then he was up early for a 7.20 start which was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain.

"It was a lot easier to play those early rounds when I was 24 or 25 years old," he said.

"The older I've gotten the tougher those early morning rounds are," added the experienced Perry who said he never drinks coffee before an early round.

"No, if I did Starbucks I would never make a putt. I can't have any caffeine before the rounds," he said.

"I'm old school, I don't workout, I just hit a lot of golf balls and practice."

Perry had a disappointing final day at the Players Championship last week when he went into the last round a shot off the lead but ended up joint 15th after making an error-ridden 81.

"I played good last week. I just got caught in a situation where it was very difficult on Sunday. We played in 30-mile-an-hour winds on a course that was set up in major championship form. I just didn't handle it very well.

"I take a lot from last week, 81 is disappointing, a terrible round of golf but I knew I was playing well, putting well and that I have to be patient. I'm playing a lot better golf," he said.

(Reporting by Simon Evans in Miami; editing by Justin Palmer)